Ignition key storage device

ABSTRACT

A container receives the key and a plurality of combination locks close off the container and prevents the key from being removed until all of the locks are unlocked and removed. Due to the concentration and manipulation required, this prevents an intoxicated driver from obtaining access to the ignition key of his vehicle.

United States Patent [191 Suprowich Jan. 22, 1974 IGNITION KEY STORAGEDEVICE [76] Inventor: Wasyl Suprowich, Box 16, Group 200, RR. No. 2,Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada [22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:313,774

[52] U.S. C1 70/63, 70/58, 70/456 R, 70/DIG. 63 [51] Int. Cl E051)65/52, E05b 73/00 [58] Field of Search.. 70/63, 14,DIG. 63, 425, 426,

70/456 R, 57, 58, 237, 61; 206/37 K, 38 K Y [56] Reierences Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,934,319 11/1933 Newbauer 70/14 2,995,025 8/1961 Toepfer70/58 3,667,259 6/1972 Reque 70/14 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS1,011,694 12/1965 Great Britain 70/237 1,476,884 3/1967 France 70/DIG.63

Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stanley G. Ade

[5 7 ABSTRACT A container receives the key and a plurality ofcombination locks close off the container and prevents the key frombeing removed until all of the locks are unlocked and removed. Due tothe concentration and manipulation required, this prevents anintoxicated driver from obtaining access to the ignition key of hisvehicle.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures IGNITION KEY STORAGE DEVICE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improvements indevices which are adapted to prevent an intoxicated person from drivinghis car or similar vehicle.

Attempts have been made to solve this problem by incorporating anignition lock in the car which requires certain combinations to be setbefore the key can be inserted and turned but unfortunately such devicesalthough they may be effective, are extremely expensive to manufactureand install.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages yet at the same timeprovides a device which requires a given amount of concentration andmanipulation before access to the ignition key is obtained. Thiseffectively prevents a driver from obtaining access to the ignition keyif his faculties are impared by alcohol or drugs to the extent wherebyhe is unable to concentrate and manipulate to a predetermined degree.

Another object .of the invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which acts as an ignition key container which iseasily carried by the driver and which furthermore may have additionaluses incorporated thereon such as a can opener or bottle opener.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described in which the concentration andmanipulation required can be varied by the number of combination locksutilized.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the,character herewithin described which is simple in construction,economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose forwhich it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view and other such objects and advantagesas will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which thisinvention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consistsessentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF'DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side sectional elevationof one embodiment of the device. FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional elevation of an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 3.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention indetail, reference character illustrates a small elongated box having anupper panel 11 and a spaced and parallel lower panel 12 maintained inthis spaced apart relationship by means of a pair of side panels 13. Oneend 14 is closed and the other end 15 is open.

A can piercer 16 may extend from the closed end 14 together with aconventional-crown cap opener l7.

Dealing first with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality ofopenings or drillings 18 are formed centrally through the upper panel I]and similarly through the lower panel 12, the lower panel aperturesbeing identified by reference character 19.

A plurality of combination locks 20 which are provided with U-shapedhasps 21, are engageable by one leg of the hasps 21, through the upperand lower apertures or drillings l8 and 19 and, when closed, aresituated as shown in FIG. 1. The hasp legs 22 which pass through theinterior of the box 10 prevent the ignition key 23, which is placed inthe box first, from being removed until the combination locks themselvesare removed.

In this connection it is essential that the distance 24 between theupper and lower panels 11 and 12 is less than the maximum width 25 ofthe ignition key so that this key cannot be turned sideways and movedpast the hasp legs 22 between these hasp legs and the sides 13.

The combination locks 20 may be relatively small and light weight and ifeach one is provided with a different combination, it needs considerableconcentration to remember the combination, to operate the combinationlock and then remove from the box so that access to the key may bemaintained.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the apertures take the form ofelongated slots 26 formed in the upper and lower panels 11 and 12 oneabove the other and situated towards the open end 15 as are theapertures 18 and 19 in the previous embodiment.

Hereagain the combination locks engage through the slots and as manycombination locks as desired may be utilized thus controlling the degreeof difficulty which will be experienced by the operator in obtainingaccess to the key 23.

In this embodiment, not only should the distance24 be left and themaximum width 25 of the key but also the width 27 of the slot should besuch that the key cannot be turned and removed through the slot ratherthan through the open end 15.

Since various modifications can be made in my in vention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A container to receive an ignition key comprising a box having oneend opened, said box including an upper panel and a lower panel and apair of side panels, at least one aperture through said upper and lowerpanels situated towards the open end of said box and at least onecombination lock, said lock having a U- shaped hasp which engagesthrough said apertures thus preventing the ignition key from beingremoved until the lock hasp is removed, the distance between the upperand lower panels of said box being less than the maximum width of saidkey whereby said key cannot be turned so that it may pass by said hasps.

2. The container according to claim 1 in which said aperture takes theform of an elongated slot, the width of said slot being less than themajor width of said key whereby said key cannot be turned and passedthrough said slot.

1. A container to receive an ignition key comprising a box having oneend opened, said box including an upper panel and a lower panel and apair of side panels, at least one aperture through said upper and lowerpanels situated towards the open end of said box and at least onecombination lock, said lock having a U-shaped hasp which engages throughsaid apertures thus preventing the ignition key from being removed untilthe lock hasp is removed, the distance between the upper and lowerpanels of said box being less than the maximum width of said key wherebysaid key cannot be turned so that it may pass by said hasps.
 2. Thecontainer according to claim 1 in which said aperture takes the form ofan elongated slot, the width of said slot being less than the majorwidth of said key whereby said key cannot be turned and passed throughsaid slot.